by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Bernard Pollard stands to be one of the most-scrutinized players in Super Bowl XLVII, what with his penchant for hard hits and a history of leading with his head.

The Baltimore Ravens defensive back who calls himself @Crushboy31 on Twitter was docked $15,250 by the NFL on Friday for dropping New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker with a helmet-to-helmet blow during the AFC Championship.

Says Pollard: Put it on my tab.

"It's part of the business. Whatever. We'll appeal it and see what happens," Pollard said Saturday, two days before the team planned to leave for New Orleans to play the San Francisco 49ers.

"It's something they thought was right, but like I continue to say, it's hard for us as football players. You want this game to be slow. It's never gonna be slow. You want us slow down and think out there. Our team, we're not going to slow down."

Pollard was originally flagged for striking an opponent in the head and neck area when he hit Welker in the third quarter. His fine was for unnecessary roughness, according to an NFL spokesperson.

"It's just so hard, you've got a receiver who's 5-6, 5-7, and he ducks his head into me when I'm coming in," Pollard says. "What can I do about that? But you've got people throwing out fines for that."

Welker, one of the shortest receivers in pro football, is listed at 5-foot-9.

Pollard was not fined for a strike which proved pivotal in the title game â?? the safety knocked out Patriots running back Stevan Ridley with another helmet-to-helmet blow which forced a fumble and led to a Ravens touchdown.

"This is how I feed my family," Pollard told reporters Friday, before the fine was announced. "I'm not going to change how I play football. This is what I've been doing for a very long time. If I don't do my job the way I'm supposed to, I don't have an income."